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Riverton catcher Steven Reinig recorded an out at home plate and quickly turned to first base to complete a double play early in the first game of the doubleheader with Rock Springs on Tuesday at Roy Peck Field. Photo by Wayne Nicholls

Raiders move to 2-0 in conference play

Jun 11, 2014 - By Bruce Tippets, Sports Editor

The Riverton Raiders held of the Rock Springs Tigers 8-7 in the opening game of the conference American Legion baseball doubleheader Tuesday at Roy Peck Field.

In the second game, Rock Springs manager Kurt Hunter was ejected from the contest in the top of the sixth inning when Riverton was up 7-6.

Riverton was trying to walk a Rock Springs player in the play.

Late in the count, Holden Cain of Rock Springs stepped across home plate to try to hit the ball.

Cain was called out on the play.

An American Legion rule states a team must have a manager or an assistant coach on the bench.

Lee was the only coach to make the trip, giving Riverton the forfeit victory.

The sparks started to fly in the fifth inning when Riverton manager Brady Beers was tossed from the game.

"Brady was just trying to protect the safety of his players," Riverton assistant coach Cody Beers said.

The Raiders are now 7-6 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.

Riverton completed its homestand with a 6-2 record.

"It's huge to win your conference games," Brady Beers said.

The Raiders lost to Rock Springs 8-3 on Saturday during the Roy Peck Wood Bat Tournament.

"Our last game with Rock Springs, we played error-free baseball," Beers said. "The difference today (Tuesday), we had hard balls just fall into holes as to going right to people."

Riverton 8, Rock Springs 7

(Opener)

The crucial inning for the Raiders came in the fourth inning against Rock Springs.

After taking a 3-1 lead for three innings, Riverton took control by scoring four runs off Rock Springs pitcher Koltin Legerski.

In the frame, Ridge McCoy had an RBI single.

Ryan Axthelm walked and scored on a wild pitch for a 5-1 cushion.

Brayden Draper and Austin Locker knocked in runs to extend the lead to 7-1.

"The fourth inning was pretty big for us," Beers said. "It was nice to jump out because we ended up needing it."

The rally for Rock Springs started with one run in the second and two more in the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth,T.J. Paulsen walked and scored, putting the Raiders up 8-4.

"T.J. is always looking for a way to contribute," Beers said. "T.J. plays solid defense. When he gets on base, he usually scores."

Rock Springs crossed home plate three times in the top of the seventh, but Riverton stopped the visiting team short of deadlocking the score.

Brady Beers threw 95 pitches in the win for the Raiders.

Axthelm and Ridge McCoy had three hits apiece.

Green River next

The Raiders play in the Green River Invitational Friday through Sunday.

Riverton faces Evanston at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

In the second game, Riverton tangles with Price, Utah, in a 5:30 p.m. battle.

The Raiders take on Douglas at 1 p.m. and Rangley, Colo., at 8 p.m.

Sunday will be used to determine the championship, third place and fifth place winners.